Statewide mental health campaign comes to Abilene

ABILENE, Texas - The 16 city traveling "Speak Your Mind Texas" campaign made its way to Abilene Wednesday morning to raise awareness about mental health and substance abuse problems in young adults.

The goal of the campaign is to eliminate the negative stigma of seeking help, and to stress the importance of getting it early.

"Getting help can change your life dramatically, " said Samantha Manski, a certified peer specialist for the Mental Health Association.

The campaign also assured that there is help out there if you need it.

"We want to make sure that residents in Abilene and Taylor County know what resources are available," said Earlene Quinn, Deputy Regional Director for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

To make the information more known, TDSHS enlisted the help of personal testimonies and a professional panel to discuss the issues. A few signs to look for in mental health issues and substance abuse are:

-Frequent mood changes

-Increased anger or edginess

-Staying distant from others

-Unhealthy appearance

-Changes in friends or hobbies

-Sudden weight loss or weight gain

To seek help, you can talk to a medical provider, educator, or counselor. You can also visit a mental health center such as Abilene Behavioral Health, Betty Hardwick, or Acadia.

For more information on the ‘Speak Your Mind Texas' campaign and ways to find help where you live, you can visit the website here.